CVE-2026-21013: Samsung Galaxy Wearable Info Disclosure

CVE-2026-21013 Overview

CVE-2026-21013 is an Insecure Permissions vulnerability affecting Samsung Galaxy Wearable, a mobile application used to manage and configure Samsung wearable devices. The vulnerability stems from incorrect default permissions that allow local attackers to access sensitive information stored by the application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), which occurs when software sets insecure permissions for files or directories.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can exploit incorrect default permissions in Samsung Galaxy Wearable to access sensitive user information, potentially exposing personal data, health metrics, device configurations, and other private information managed through the wearable companion app.

Affected Products

• Samsung Galaxy Wearable versions prior to 2.2.68.26
• Samsung Galaxy Wearable Android application

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-13 - CVE-2026-21013 published to NVD
• 2026-04-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-21013

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists due to improper permission configuration within the Samsung Galaxy Wearable application. The application fails to properly restrict access to sensitive data stores, allowing other applications or users on the same device to read information that should be protected. The local attack vector means an attacker would need physical access to the device or the ability to execute code locally through another compromised application.

The confidentiality impact is significant as the vulnerability allows unauthorized access to user data. However, the vulnerability does not provide the ability to modify data or disrupt service availability. The lack of required privileges or user interaction to exploit this flaw makes it more concerning for users who may have other untrusted applications installed on their devices.

Root Cause

The root cause is CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions. The Samsung Galaxy Wearable application sets overly permissive access controls on files, directories, or data stores containing sensitive information. This may include shared preferences, databases, or cache files that store user data, device pairing information, health metrics, or authentication tokens. When these resources are world-readable or accessible to other applications, any local process can retrieve the information.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker to have the ability to execute code on the same Android device where Samsung Galaxy Wearable is installed. Exploitation scenarios include:

A malicious application installed on the user's device could silently read sensitive data from the vulnerable Galaxy Wearable application's storage locations. This could occur without the user's knowledge, as no special permissions or user interaction are required beyond the attacker having code execution capability on the device.

An attacker with physical access to an unlocked device could use debugging tools or file managers with root access to browse and extract the improperly secured data directly from the file system.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-21013

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file access patterns to Samsung Galaxy Wearable application data directories
• Unexpected applications accessing /data/data/com.samsung.android.app.watchmanager/ or related paths
• Evidence of data exfiltration from wearable-related databases or shared preferences
• Suspicious inter-process communication targeting the Galaxy Wearable application

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for unauthorized file access to Galaxy Wearable storage locations using Android audit logs
• Implement application behavior analysis to detect apps reading other applications' private data
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of monitoring Android file system access patterns
• Review installed applications for known malicious packages that target Samsung applications

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Android audit logging to track file access events in sensitive application directories
• Implement mobile threat defense (MTD) solutions to monitor for privilege abuse and data theft
• Regularly audit installed applications for potentially unwanted programs or malware
• Monitor network traffic for unusual data exfiltration patterns that could indicate stolen information being transmitted

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-21013

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Samsung Galaxy Wearable to version 2.2.68.26 or later immediately
• Review installed applications and remove any untrusted or suspicious apps from devices
• Enable Google Play Protect and ensure it is actively scanning for malicious applications
• Consider using device encryption if not already enabled to protect data at rest

Patch Information

Samsung has released a security patch addressing this vulnerability. Users should update their Galaxy Wearable application through the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store to version 2.2.68.26 or later. The fix corrects the default permissions applied to sensitive data stores, ensuring proper access controls prevent unauthorized local access.

For detailed information about this security update, refer to the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for April 2026.

Workarounds

• Avoid installing applications from untrusted sources or third-party app stores
• Regularly review application permissions and revoke unnecessary access
• Use Android work profiles to isolate sensitive applications from potentially malicious apps
• Keep the device physically secure and ensure screen lock is enabled with a strong PIN or biometric

# Check current Galaxy Wearable version on Android
adb shell dumpsys package com.samsung.android.app.watchmanager | grep versionName

# Verify app permissions are correctly configured (requires root)
adb shell ls -la /data/data/com.samsung.android.app.watchmanager/

# Force update check through Play Store
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "market://details?id=com.samsung.android.app.watchmanager"